
Genovesa, Center & San Cristóbal
5 Days Galápagos cruise on board the Anahi
From USD 2,188
Genovesa, Center & San Cristóbal
5 Days, Max. 16 passengers
12 Reviews
A 5-day Expedition Cruise
12 Reviews
The Trip Highlights
Snorkel with Hammerheads at Darwin Bay
A bird lover's paradise: Hiking on Genovesa
Playful Sea Lions in South Plaza
Giant Tortoises in the wild on Santa Cruz
Galapatours 'Plus' Experience
Superbly stable in the water
Great choice of itineraries
English-speaking guide for all activities
Lectures in the evening
Get to know the highlights of Galápagos with this Naturalist cruise on board the beautiful Anahi! On this Expedition Cruise, you will discover the incredible wildlife of the Galápagos Islands: On Genovesa, breathtaking dinghy rides, stunning views and close encounters with the most iconic birds of the Archipelago await you. Blue-footed Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies and many more species can be seen here. On San Cristóbal, you will be able to snorkel in crystal clear waters, relax with sea lions on pristine white sand beaches and learn more about the evolution of giant tortoises. During your time on Santa Cruz, you will have the chance to observe the famous Galápagos Giant Tortoises in the wild and learn more about the preservation and scientific study of these amazing animals. Your visit to Santa Fe will involve a beautiful short hike, during which you can observe Galápagos Hawks, Darwin's Finches, Galápagos Mockingbirds. and Galápagos Sea Lions. A walk across South Plaza is one of the best visitor experiences in the Galápagos thanks to the large number of species living in such a small area.
Your ship: Anahi
- Superbly stable for a comfortable cruise
- Complimentary snorkel gear
- Great choice of itineraries
- Jacuzzi and a great sundeck
The Motor Catamaran Anahi is a delightfully comfortable yacht, built specifically for Galápagos cruises in Ecuador in 2006. This first-class vessel has been designed with stability in mind, offering you a wonderfully relaxed and calm cruise experience. Although a thoroughly modern ship, Anahi is richly decorated throughout with natural wood finishes, including beautiful teak decks and flooring for a real touch of luxury.
Stateroom or Suite?
Takin … Read more about Anahi
Amenities
Transfers to and from ship
Snorkel gear (free of charge)
100% CO2 carbon footprint offset
Kayaks on board
Air conditioning & private bathroom
Single travellers can share cabin
Water, Coffee, Tea & fresh juices
-20% for children ≤ 12
Triple cabins
English guide
All meals
Food & Drinks
The food on our Galapágos Cruises is among the very best you will find in South America. Most of the on-board chefs are internationally trained and have prior experience working in the best hotels and restaurants in Ecuador and indeed around the world.
You can expect a first-class selection of food, including a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, locally sourced poultry and fish/seafood, rice and pasta dishes. Most boats will always include some typical Ecuadorian dishes on the menu during your cruise. If you have specific dietary requirements then these can usually be accommodated by the chef providing you have given advance notice. Please make sure you tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements you have at the time you book with us. If you leave it until you arrive at the dockside, then it may well be impossible to accommodate your needs.
Most boats serve a range of options at meal times in a relaxed buffet-style. At the first class and luxury end of the market, some boats have more formal dining where you will be served at your seat. However the atmosphere is always relaxed on board our cruises, and never stuffy or formal.



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Optional Module Before First Day
Day 1
AM
Baltra • Arrival at Baltra airport+transfer to ship

Welcome to Galápagos! Once your flight has landed and you went through the immigration process, you'll be met in the Arrivals lounge by our English-speaking guide who will take you to your transfer vehicle for the short journey to your waiting ship.
Baltra Island, where your arrival airport is, was used as an important Air Force base in the Second World War. This is the primary airport for the Galápagos Islands and you'll be rubbing shoulders with fellow tourists, international naturalists and conservationists, researchers and academics, and Galápagos residents alike. The airport has been built as a "green" airport, and as well as using recycled materials in its construction, it's special design keeps the buildings relatively cool without the need for any air conditioning.
Once on board your ship, you will be introduced to the crew and given a welcome briefing as well as an important safety drill. After this you'll be shown to your cabin. While you're served a well-deserved and delicious lunch, the captain will cast off and your adventure truly starts.
Note: If you plan to spend a few days prior to the cruise in Puerto Ayora and want to do the cruise later this is no problem at all. The transfer from Puerto Ayora to Baltra is very easy.
PM
Santa Cruz • Bachas Beach

The name "Bachas Beach" (or "Las Bachas" in Spanish) actually comes from a mispronunciation! After the second world war, American forces stationed on Santa Cruz abandoned some of their barges there - "bachas" was the nearest some of the locals could get to pronouncing the English word, and the name has stuck. You can still see the remains of one of the floating docks the soldiers set up on one of the two beaches that make up Las Bachas Beach.
This beach is covered in white coral sand, and it's a major nesting site for Galápagos green turtles. There's also a lagoon just behind the sand which often hosts flamingos, ducks and migratory birds. You can also often find marine iguanas feeding on the rocky outcrops near the tide line.
The main beach is perfect for swimming, being very sheltered from the ocean swells, and is a very pleasant spot to cool off and to indulge in some snorkeling.
Day 2
AM
Genovesa • Darwin Bay

Darwin Bay is a must-visit site for birdwatchers. Starting with a landing on a beautiful white coral beach you are able to follow an easy half-mile trail that will take you through bird-filled mangroves. Species that can be seen on this part of the trail include Nazca Boobies, Galápagos red-footed Boobies, and Swallow-Tailed gulls.
As the path continues you will find tidal pools - favourite spots for Galápagos Sea Lions to lazily swim and play. At the path's end you will come to the top of a cliff which will reward you with a spectacular view.
PM
Genovesa • Prince Philip's Steps

Named after Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the Galápagos Islands twice, the Prince Philip's Steps pier uses natural rock formations to allow you to land and admire the variety of seabirds that inhabit Genovesa. With careful steps on the wet and slippery lower rocks, you begin your hike near a small colony of Galápagos sea bears before reaching the beautiful vantage point further up with views of the lava plains.
The birdlife will surround you from all sides and you will enjoy the sight and sounds of many wonderful species, including blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies and Nazca boobies, but also small Galápagos owls and Galápagos pigeons.
Day 3
AM
South Plaza • A walk on South Plaza

Whilst her twin, North Plaza, is closed to visitors, South Plaza is one of the best visitor sites in the Galápagos thanks to the large number of species present on her small area.
The Plazas were formed as the result of a geological uplift, and because this was uneven they both have cliffs on their south sides and low lying shores on their northern coasts.
The most noticeable (and noisiest) of South Plaza's residents are her Galápagos Sea Lions, who have a large colony here. Less obvious are her land iguanas (the smallest in the islands), many marine iguanas and large numbers and varieties of seabirds.
Inland is a mix of scrubby vegetation and giant opuntia cactus forest, providing food for the iguanas. As you follow the circular hiking trail you will come to the summit of the cliffs here where you'll be among countless nesting seabirds.
PM
Santa Fe • A walk on Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a small, flat island right in the center of the Galápagos archipelago, and is thought to be one of the oldest volcanoes here. Dating of the rocks below the water estimates they were formed almost 4 million years ago.
Santa Fe had its own breed of Giant Tortoise that became extinct at some point in the 1800s due to being hunted for meat. There are two species that are unique to the island still present here - the Santa Fe Land Iguana, and the Santa Fe Rice Rat.
There is one visitor site on Santa Fe, and you will have a panga ride to a wet landing on the beach at Barrington Bay on the island's north coast. From here there are two hiking trails. One is a short loop close to the beach that takes you into an Opuntia forest filled with these massive cactus. This is the best opportunity to see the Santa Fe land iguanas and also other species such as Galápagos Hawks.
The second trail is a tougher proposition as it climbs quite steeply to the top of a cliff from where you will enjoy stunning views over the island's unspoilt interior.
Back on the beach you can join the Galápagos Sea Lions who often play in the waves and you can enjoy some wonderful snorkeling in the clear blue-green waters here.
Day 4
AM
San Cristóbal • Pitt Point

Pitt Point, or Punta Pitt, is at the far eastern edge of San Cristobal. Following a wet landing directly onto the beach you'll be welcomed by the friendly and noisy barking of the local colony of Galápagos Sea Lions! This is actually a bachelor colony of males who haven't held a breeding territory, and they can sometimes be the worse for wear if they have been fighting on one of the breeding beaches elsewhere.
After the noise of the beach, a quieter path takes us up the cliffs to a breeding site used by all 3 resident species of booby - the Blue-Footed, Red-Footed and Nazca Boobies. Nowhere else in the Galápagos do all three species nest side-by-side like this.
As well as this unique booby colony you can also see Galápagos Frigatebirds and petrels. In addition to the wonderful bird life, the view down to the beach and across the island from this high vantage point make the climb worth it.
The hiking trail lets you get a close look at the Saltbush and other tough shrubs that manage to survive in this sometimes eerie volcanic landscape. Your Galapatours guide will be able to explain in detail how hardy plants such as these colonise the lava fields all over the Galápagos.
PM
San Cristóbal • Kicker Rock

Kicker Rock (or Leon Dormido, "sleeping lion", locally) is an iconic feature of Galápagos geology, and is one of the most popular photograph opportunities in the archipelago.
Kicker Rock is the remains of a volcanic "tuff cone". Tuff cones are formed when hot magma meets cold seawater, and the resulting explosion forms the rocky structure seen today. Over countless years erosion has caused a split, opening a narrow channel that small boats can sail completely through, and offering an amazing view as you sail around this 490ft tall monolith!
As you navigate around the rock you will see Galápagos Blue-Footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, and Frigatebirds as they launch themselves from their roosts in the cliffs high above.
Marine life here is plentiful, and you may spot hammerhead sharks, green turtles and a whole variety of tropical fish, particularly if your boat includes a snorkeling stop here as some do.
San Cristóbal • Lobos Island

Lobos Island is named after the colony of Galápagos Sea Lions that live here, but they aren't the only native Galápagos species that calls this narrow island home. You can see Galápagos Fur Seals basking here, and there is a nesting colony of Blue-Footed Boobies that come to Lobos each year to raise their chicks.
There are one or two short hiking trails that lead into the center of the island, and this is always a peaceful place to visit. Galapatours visitors tell us it's one of their favorite visitor sites to just sit and soak up the Galápagos atmosphere.
Back on the beach, the swimming and snorkeling is wonderful, and thanks to the island's position close to the main shore of San Cristobal, the channel between them is sheltered and the turquoise water is crystal clear. This is a Galapatours favorite spot, so speak to one of our Galápagos specialists if you want help choosing an itinerary that includes a visit to this special place.
Day 5
AM
San Cristóbal • El Junco Lagoon

El Junco Lagoon is one of the very few permanent sources of fresh water in the whole Galápagos. It avoids evaporation thanks to its elevation - some 2,300ft above sea level in the moist highlands of San Cristobal. The journey to visit is via a 45 minute bus ride from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The name comes from the many sage or "junco" plants that can be found around the lagoon. El Junco covers some 72,000 square yards and holds over 7 1/2 million gallons of fresh water.
The lagoon formed because this is the site of a collapsed cone of a long-extinct volcano. The source of water here is purely rain, and so the depth of the lake varies throughout the year, but it has never dried out in living memory. In fact scientists think the lagoon may have stayed filled since the end of the last ice age.
On your way to the lagoon itself you'll climb up through several different vegetation zones before you reach this wonderful viewpoint. As well as a superb place to drink in the wonderful landscape, it's also a great place to observe a wide variety of bird species, including rare mockingbirds, pintail ducks and even frigatebirds, who come here to bathe their feathers in the fresh water. Surrounding the lagoon are tree ferns and Miconia bushes.
San Cristóbal • Transfer to San Cristóbal airport

It's sadly time to make the very short trip to the airport for your flight back to the Ecuador mainland. Your Galapatours guide, who will have been with you throughout your adventure, will accompany you back to the departures area, giving you one final chance to tap into their excellent local knowledge and unrivalled experience.
Note: If want to spend some time in Galápagos after your cruise, please let us know. This is no problem at all and the transfer from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to the airport and back couldn't be easier.
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Reviews
patrick h
5 day cruise on Anahi This was an excellent trip on a comfortable boat with an outstanding guide and friendly crew. The excusions were first class and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Source: TripAdvisor
JoeLikesBali - Washington, DC
Galapagos Cruise: Anahi Catamaran We did a 10-night tour on the first class Anahi and we thought it was a terrific boat. It accommodates 16 passengers, in addition to the crew. We wanted to be in a smaller group and we believe this was definitely a good choice. They offer four cruise itineraries, two 7-nights itineraries (A2 and B2, see the Anahi link below) and two 3-night itineraries (A1 and B1). We did the A1 and B1 itineraries, which did not overlap (be careful because some of them do), which seemed to be the best ones, and which were in any case wonderful. The itinerary was carefully thought out and was wonderful. Every morning and afternoon we had a full schedule of one or two activities that were usually hikes or snorkeling, but that also included visits to nature centers and optional kayaking. Every evening before dinner we were briefed on the activities for the next day so that we could prepare ourselves mentally and bring proper clothes and footwear. We were able to visit some very remote locations including on Fernandina and the west side of Isabel. The only major islands we missed were Santa Fe and Genovesa; we definitely had the feeling that we saw almost everything there was to see in Galapagos. Long-distance traveling between islands was done mostly at night so as not to take time away from sightseeing during the day, but occasionally we traveled during the day to see whales and dolphins or when the schedule made this unavoidable. The boat has been operating for many years and therefore it has the right to visit some select locations that we were told newer boats do not because access licenses are limited. There were several places we visited where we saw only two other boats and there was one place where we were the only boat, so this seems believable. The food was very good and plentiful. We are adventurous about food, and unfortunately the food on any group tour is going to suffer from a lowest common denominator quality, but we were nevertheless happy. Every meal included meat and fish. All hot dishes were thoroughly cooked. There was always an excellent selection of salads, though some of them became repetitive, and occasionally there were local dishes served. A couple of times when the schedule and weather permitted we had a barbecue on the deck. We would have liked to eat more local dishes, particularly fresh seafood and cevice, and some rare or less cooked options, but tour operators have to be cautious because they can run into finicky passengers. A couple of times we got the other passengers together and had the captain buy for us gigantic lobsters at the markets on shore. Then the chef grilled them for us and we were out of our minds with happiness. The layout of the boat is excellent. One of our favorite features was that the windows are fairly large and can be opened. We traveled in September, the coolest month, and always slept with the windows open. There are two suites which are huge and nice, but have the disadvantage that the windows open onto an upper walkway that is not heavily used, but still you do not have full privacy if you open the windows, and actually we’re not even sure that the windows in the suites could be opened at all. In the ordinary rooms the windows open directly onto the water, so they can be left open all night, when getting out of the shower, etc… without privacy concerns. Most other boats that we saw either had windows that didn’t open, or they opened onto a walkway so you wouldn’t have full privacy, or in some luxury boats they opened onto a balcony, but the balcony might not be fully private and even if it were you might not want one between your window and the water. It was great to wake up in the morning or even the middle of the night and just stick our heads or cameras out. Most boats seemed to have rooms that were accessed from outside by an outer walkway. Our rooms were accessed indoors by a central hallway, which was much better. The beds were big and comfortable. Unfortunately, only the two suites and two of the other double rooms have double beds. The other four rooms have twin beds, which is a shame if you are a couple, though the twin bed layouts are slightly more spacious than the ordinary double bed layouts, especially in the bathrooms. (Note that the boat layout in the link below which shows that all standard rooms have twin beds is not quite correct.) There are two good tall storage closets and a safe in each room, and there was enough extra space in the small hallway inside our room to store our two large suitcases. There is a small desk, with power outlets where you can charge camera batteries and plug in electronic devices and also a power outlet on the night table between the beds. The bathroom is large and comfortable, with plenty of hot water in the shower and with soap and shampoo dispensers. You get one small bottle of drinking water each at the start of the trip, and there is a water cooler in the common area that you can fill it from as often as you like. (We had an extra bottle that we brought with us, which was convenient.) The dining room and relaxation area are each large enough to accommodate all 16 passengers comfortably at the same time. There is lots of space on the decks to sit in the sun or outside in the shaded bar area. If you go during the hot season and everyone wants to sunbathe at the same time there won’t be enough long beach chairs for everyone, but if that is an issue then why not save money and go to Miami instead of Galapagos, and anyway the sun in Galapagos is brutal, so you really shouldn’t be sunbathing at all. We went in September, a cooler month, and there was always plenty of space on the decks. There is a whirlpool bath, but it is filled rarely because the sea has to be calm and it has to be emptied again before cruising otherwise the bathwater would spill everywhere. Our guide was the famous Roberto, who we see has been mentioned many times here on TA. We thought he was great. He indeed appears to be one of the very best guides in the Galapagos. My wife sometimes lagged behind our group to take pictures and heard some of the other guides speak; she said they were not nearly as good. We have seen Roberto mentioned in association with Anahi, so there is a good chance you will get him, but he must take breaks as well. You can try asking if he will be there, but that information might not be available, especially if you book in advance. A good guide is important; there’s no internet access in Galapagos, so you can’t just look up Wikipedia on your smartphone if you get a clueless guide. All of the other staff were terrific as well. I cut myself on a rock snorkeling and they were very helpful about cleaning and disinfecting the cut and then keeping it properly bandaged. They were also generally friendly and cheerful and were helpful with a number of miscellaneous favors that we asked. Source: goo.gl/Ja2cXo
WATSON, AUSTRALIAN
Loved this ship and crew! Robert our guide the Captain and crew have all helped make this a fantastic experience- thank you! Excellent food! Will definitely recommend ANAHI! Source: http://www.yachtanahi.com/testimonials.html#2017
CARYS EVANS, MICHEAL JENS
A great experience A great experience, flexible itinerary and a crew and guide always ready to help, friendly and welcoming. Thanks so much! Source: http://www.yachtanahi.com/testimonials.html#2017
LUCY AND ANGELA NORMAN
Lovely ship and crew! Lovely ship and crew! Everyone was so helpful and friendly, especially the barman, he guide and Carlos who saved my sunglasses. Thank you so much! Source: http://www.yachtanahi.com/testimonials.html#2017